baak6 zau3白晝白昼
Jyutpingbaak6 zau3
Yalebaahk jau
Definition
Daytime; the hours of daylight between dawn and dusk.
writtentimenature
How it's used
Literary and formal, this term is rarely used in casual daily speech where 日頭 is the standard choice. It is primarily encountered in written texts, weather reports, or scientific contexts discussing light and time. Using it in a normal conversation about your daily schedule will sound overly poetic or stiff.
Examples
The daylight hours are really long in summer.
Do you prefer the daytime or the nighttime?
Related words
Common phrases
daylight hours
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common noun for 'day' like 日, but it specifically refers to the period of light. Do not use it to count days, as in 'three days', where you must use 三日 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
